EL display device and method of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

To decrease the number of layers while keeping or improving the performance of an EL element, so that the production cost is reduced. Cathodes ( 106, 107 ), a light emitting layer ( 108 ), an anode ( 109 ), and a passivation film ( 110 ) are formed on pixel electrodes ( 104, 105 ). Thereafter, the vicinity of the interface between the light emitting layer ( 108 ) and the anode ( 109 ) are doped with a halogen element through the passivation film ( 110 ) and the anode ( 109 ). This leads to formation of a hole conveying region ( 111 ) that functions as a hole conveying layer, thereby enhancing the light emission efficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electro-optical device representedby an EL (electroluminescence) display device comprising a semiconductorelement (an element using a semiconductor thin film, typically, a thinfilm transistor) that is formed on a substrate, and to an electronicdevice (electronic equipment) having the electro-optical device as adisplay. Specifically, the invention relates to a method ofmanufacturing these devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in a technique forforming a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as a TFT) on asubstrate, and developing the application of TFTs to active matrix typedisplay devices is proceeding. TFTs using a polysilicon film, inparticular, have a higher electric field mobility than that ofconventional TFTs using an amorphous silicon film, and hence are capableof high speed operation. Accordingly, control of pixels, which in thepast has been made by driver circuits outside the substrate, now can bemade by driver circuits formed on the same substrate on which the pixelsare formed.

The attention is kept drawn to such active matrix type display devicesin expectation of various advantages, such as lowering of productioncost, downsizing of display devices, and an increase in yield andthroughput, as a result of putting all the various kinds of circuits andelements onto the same single substrate.

In active matrix type EL display devices, every pixel is provided with aswitching element formed of a TFT, and an EL layer emits light when adrive element that controls current is operated by this switchingelement. The mainstream at present of the structure of the EL layer isthe layered structure with three or four layers, proposed by Tang, etal. from Eastman Kodak Company.

Lately, however, many are concerned that multi-layering of the elementstructure will invite complication of the manufacture process andincrease of the production cost. Attempts have been made in thisconnection to reduce the number of layers by doping a light emittinglayer with a specific impurity element and using it as an electronconveying layer or an electron injection layer.

For instance, Idemitsu Kosan, Co. Ltd. proposes doping the lightemitting layer (distylarylene derivative) near its surface with cesium(Cs) that has a small work function to use the doped region as theelectron conveying layer. (Preliminaries for the Sixth FPD Seminar,sponsored by Electronic Journal, pp. 83-88)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the problem inmulti-layering of the EL element, mentioned above, and an object of thepresent invention is therefore to provide a technique for reducing thenumber of the layers while keeping, or improving the performance of theEL element. More specifically, the present invention aims at providing anovel method of manufacturing an EL display device of the type thatemits light from one side of a substrate where the element is formed.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce production cost sothat an inexpensive EL display device is provided. Still another objectof the present invention is to reduce product cost of an electronicdevice (electronic equipment) having the inexpensive EL display deviceas its display.

According to the present invention, a light emitting layer is doped witha specific impurity element to make the doped region function as acarrier conveying layer (or a carrier injection layer), thereby reducingthe number of the layers in the light emitting layer of the EL element.

Specifically, the light emitting layer in the vicinity of an anode isdoped with a halogen element in order to encourage the conveyance ofholes. On the other hand, the light emitting layer in the vicinity of acathode is doped with an alkali metal element or an alkaline earth metalelement in order to encourage the conveyance of electrons. Ion dopingthat involves mass separation, or ion implantation that does not, may beused at the doping step of the impurity element.

The present invention is characterized in that doping of the abovespecific impurity element is carried out under a state in which nofactors are found that might possibly invite degradation of the lightemitting layer. To elaborate, the light emitting layer is doped with thespecific impurity element while avoiding exposure to the open air(especially, oxygen). The conveyance of the holes or the electrons arethus improved without causing degradation of the light emitting layer.

As a typical example, an EL element consisting of a cathode, a lightemitting layer and an anode layered in order from the bottom is dopedwith an impurity element through a passivation film formed on the anode.In this case, it is desirable that the process of from forming thecathode to forming the passivation film is completed without exposingthe element to the open air not even once. An appropriate apparatus toachieve this is a thin film forming apparatus of multi-chamber system(also called cluster tool system) where various kinds of processingchambers are integrated, or a thin film forming apparatus of in-linesystem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1A to 1D are diagrams showing a process of manufacturing an ELdisplay device;

FIGS. 2A to 2D are diagrams showing a process of manufacturing an ELdisplay device;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a process of manufacturing an ELdisplay device;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a process of manufacturing an EL displaydevice;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a process of manufacturing an EL displaydevice;

FIGS. 6A to 6D are diagrams showing a process of manufacturing an ELdisplay device;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a process of manufacturing an EL displaydevice;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing the state of an EL display devicebefore and after emitting light.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the structure of a thin film formingapparatus;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of an EL display device;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing in section the structure of an EL displaydevice; and

FIGS. 12A to 12F are diagrams showing examples of an electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[Embodiment 1]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with referenceto FIGS. 1A to 1D. First, TFTs 102, 103 are formed on a substrate 101using a known method. Though any substrate may be employed as thesubstrate 101, a glass substrate, a ceramic substrate, a plasticsubstrate, and a stainless steel substrate are preferred. (FIG. 1A)

The TFTs 102, 103 may take any structure. However, since they are TFTsthat control current flowing into pixel electrodes 104, 105, a structurethat can lessen degradation by heat generation and by hot carrier effectis desirable. On the other hand, too much current generates heat todegrade the EL layer, and therefore, in some cases, channel length isextended or a resistor is placed in order to suppress an excessivecurrent.

Note that, though FIGS. 1A to 1D illustrate the TFT as if only one TFTis formed in one pixel, actually, two TFTs, one is a switching TFT andthe other is a current controlling TFT (this one is the TFT shown inFIGS. 1A to 1D) are provided. The arrangement of the respective TFTs mayfollow the illustration of FIG. 1 (where the TFTs are denoted by T1 andT2) disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 8-241048.

The pixel electrodes 104, 105 are formed of a material having highreflectivity. Specifically, a material containing aluminum as a mainingredient (containing 50 wt % or more aluminum) is preferable. Of lightbeams emitted from the EL element, one that travels toward the substrate101 side is almost entirely reflected at the pixel electrodes 104, 105and exits therefrom.

Next, the EL element will be formed using a thin film forming apparatusshown in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, reference symbol 901 denotes a loadingchamber for loading and unloading the substrate which is also called aload lock chamber. A carrier 902 in which the substrate shown in FIG. 1Ais set is arranged in this chamber. The loading chamber 901 may bedivided into a substrate loading chamber and a substrate unloadingchamber.

Reference symbol 903 denotes a common chamber including a mechanism 904for transferring the substrate (hereinafter referred to as atransferring mechanism). The common chamber 903 communicates with aplurality of processing chambers (denoted by 906 to 910) through gates905 a to 905 f, respectively.

The respective processing chambers are completely closed off to thecommon chamber 903 by the gates 905 a to 905 f, providing air-tightspaces. Accordingly, the processing can be made in vacuum if an exhaustpump is provided in each processing chamber. Usable exhaust pumps may bea hydraulic rotary pump, a mechanical booster pump, a turbomolecularpump, and a cryopump, of which the cryopump is preferred because it iseffective in discharging moisture.

The substrate is transferred first to the common chamber 903 by thetransferring mechanism 904, and then to a first vapor phase filmformation processing chamber 906. In the first vapor phase filmformation processing chamber 906, cathodes 106, 107 are formed from ametal film containing an alkali metal element, or an alkaline earthmetal element. Either evaporation or sputtering may be employed to formthe film. In this embodiment, an MgAg alloy obtained by jointevaporation of magnesium and silver at a ratio of 10:1 is used.

Being formed on the pixel electrodes 104, 105 that are connected to theTFTs, the cathodes 106, 107 can receive current output from the TFTs102, 103. In short, the cathodes 106, 107 can establish electricalconnection with the TFTs 102, 103.

The substrate is then transferred from the first vapor phase filmformation processing chamber 906 to a solution application processingchamber 907. In the solution application processing chamber 907, asolution containing an EL material is applied by spin coating to form apolymer precursor that contains a polymer-based EL material. In thisembodiment, a solution in which polyvinyl carbazole is dissolved inchloroform is used as the solution containing an EL material. It is ofcourse possible to use other polymer-based EL material (typically,polyphenylene vinylene, polycarbonate, etc.) and other organic solvent(typically, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, etc.) in combination.

Subsequently, the substrate is transferred from solution applicationprocessing chamber 907 to a calcination processing chamber 908. In thecalcination processing chamber 908, the EL material is polymerized bycalcination processing (heat treatment). In this embodiment, a stage isheated by a heater so that the heat treatment is performed on the entiresubstrate at a temperature of 50 to 150° C. (preferably, 110 to 120°C.). Excess chloroform is thus volatilized, forming a polymer-basedlight emitting layer 108 made of polyvinyl carbazole. (FIG. 1B) Next,the substrate is transferred from the calcination processing chamber 908to a second vapor phase film formation processing chamber 909. An anode109 is formed therein from a transparent conductive film by sputteringor evaporation on the polymer-based light emitting layer 108. For theanode 109, a transparent conductive film made of, for example, acompound of indium oxide and tin oxide (ITO) or a compound of indiumoxide and zinc oxide may be used. A compound obtained by mixing 10 to15% zinc oxide with indium oxide is used in this embodiment.

The substrate is then transferred from the second vapor phase filmformation processing chamber 909 to a third vapor phase film formationprocessing chamber 910. A passivation film 110 is formed in there froman insulating film or, preferably, an insulating film containing siliconby sputtering or evaporation. The passivation film 110 is provided toprotect the light emitting layer 108 from moisture and oxygen.Accordingly, a silicon nitride film or a silicon nitride oxide filmwhich contains almost no oxygen is preferred for the passivation film.

As the passivation film 110, an insulating film may be used whichcontains Si (silicon), Al (aluminum), N (nitrogen), O (oxygen), and M (Mis at least one member of the rare earth elements, preferably, at leastone element selected from Ce (cerium), Yb (ytterbium), Sm (samarium), Er(erbium), Y (yttrium), La (lanthanum), Gd (gadolinium), Dy (dysprosium),and Nd (neodymium)).

In this way, the state shown in FIG. 1C is obtained. After that thesubstrate is transferred from the third vapor phase film formationprocessing chamber 910 to the carrier 902 placed in the loading chamber901. A series of processing using the thin film forming apparatus shownin FIG. 9 is thus completed.

An advantage of using the thin film forming apparatus shown in FIG. 9 isthat the process of from forming the cathode 106 to forming thepassivation film 110 can be carried out continuously without exposingthe substrate to the air (moisture, especially) not even once. In otherwords, all the processes are carried out in vacuum or in an inert gasatmosphere, so that degradation of the light emitting layer is notcaused.

In addition, the thin film forming apparatus is also provided with aprocessing chamber for spin coating, which makes it possible to form anEL element using a polymer-based EL material. It is also possible toform the light emitting layer 108 by evaporation or sputtering, ofcourse.

After thus obtaining the state shown in FIG. 1C, doping of an impurityelement is then performed through the passivation film 110 and the anode109. In this embodiment, a halogen element (typically, fluorine,chlorine, bromine, or iodine) is the dopant. At this point, the dopingis made such that the concentration of halogen element is the highest inthe vicinity of the interface between the anode 109 and the lightemitting layer 108. The vicinity of the interface between the anode andthe light emitting layer refers to the extent 100 nm (typically 50 nm)down the depth of the light emitting layer from the interface betweenthe anode and the light emitting layer. It causes no trouble if thehalogen element is contained in the anode. (FIG. 1D)

The thus formed region 111 doped with the halogen element serves as aregion for facilitating movement of carriers (holes, in this case) fromthe anode 109 to the light emitting layer 108, enhancing the lightemission efficiency. That is, the region 111 functions substantially asa hole conveying layer (or a hole injection layer). Regions as such aretherefore referred to as hole conveying regions in this specification.

Accordingly, the need for separately forming a hole conveying layer onthe light emitting layer 108 is eliminated, simplifying the manufactureprocess of the EL display device. Also, the present invention has anadvantage in that there is no fear of degrading the light emitting layer108 because the impurity element doping step is not carried out untilformation of films up through the passivation film is finished.

[Embodiment 2]

This embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2D.First, an auxiliary electrode 202 and a cathode 203 are formed on asubstrate 201. The electrode and the cathode are selectively andcontinuously layered by evaporation or sputtering while using a mask.Though not shown in FIG. 2A, there are formed a plurality of electrodeswhich extend in the depth direction of the space defined in the drawing,forming stripes.

The auxiliary electrode 202 is an electrode formed of a material mainlycontaining aluminum, copper or silver, and having a very lowresistivity. In this embodiment, an MgAg alloy is used as the cathode203 with a low resistance electrode layered thereon as an auxiliary toenhance the conductivity, thereby reducing the film thickness. This lowresistance electrode is therefore referred to as the auxiliaryelectrode.

Then a light emitting layer 204 is formed so as to cover the auxiliaryelectrode 202 and the cathode 203. In this embodiment, Alq₃(tris-8-chinolinato-aluminum), which is a monomer-based EL material, isselectively formed by evaporation using a mask. (FIG. 2B)

Subsequently, an anode 205 is formed from a transparent conductive filminto stripe form so as to be perpendicular to the cathode 203.Evaporation or sputtering using a mask is appropriate for this filmformation. A compound obtained by mixing tin oxide or zinc oxide withindium oxide is used as the anode 205 in this embodiment.

A passivation film 206 is formed next to cover the anode 205. In thisembodiment, a silicon nitride film is formed as the passivation film 206onto the entire surface. Other insulating films, as mentioned inEmbodiment 1, may of course be used instead. The sectional view of thedevice in the state of FIG. 2C, taken along the line A-A′, is shown inFIG. 3A.

After the state shown in FIG. 2C is obtained, the device is doped with ahalogen element through the passivation film 206 and the anode 205. Atthis point, similar to Embodiment 1, the doping is made such that theconcentration of the halogen element is the highest in the vicinity ofthe interface between the anode 205 and the light emitting layer 204. Asa result, a hole conveying region 207 is formed in the vicinity of theinterface between the anode 205 and the light emitting layer 204 toenhance the light emission efficiency. (FIG. 2D)

The sectional view of the device in the state of FIG. 2D, taken alongthe line B-B′, is shown in FIG. 3B. However, a region denoted by 208 isdoped with the halogen element at a deeper level as compared with thearea right beneath the anode 205, for the region 208 is in between theanode 205 and the adjacent anode 205.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the need forseparately forming a hole conveying layer on the light emitting layer204 is eliminated. simplifying the manufacture process of the EL displaydevice. Also, the present invention has an advantage in that there is nofear of degrading the light emitting layer 204 because the impurityelement doping step is not carried out until formation of films upthrough the passivation film is finished.

[Embodiment 3]

This embodiment gives a description of the case where the impurityelement used for doping in Embodiment 1 is changed to other elements.The symbols used in Embodiment 1 will be referred when necessary.

First, following the steps of Embodiment 1, the state shown in FIG. 1Cis obtained. A doping step of an impurity element is then carried out asshown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the vicinity of the interfacebetween the cathode 107 and the light emitting layer 108 is doped withan alkali metal element, typical examples of which include Li (lithium),Na (sodium), K (potassium), and Cs (cesium), or an alkaline earth metalelement, typical examples of which include Be (beryllium), Mg(magnesium), Ca (calcium), and Ba (barium). The vicinity of theinterface between the cathode and the light emitting layer here refersto an extent 100 nm (typically, 50 nm) up in the depth direction of thelight emitting layer from the interface between the cathode and thelight emitting layer. It causes no trouble if the alkali metal elementor the alkaline earth metal element is contained in the cathode.

The thus formed region 401 doped with the alkali metal element or thealkaline earth metal element serves as a region for promoting movementof carriers (electrons, in this case) from the cathode 107 to the lightemitting layer 108. That is, the region 401 functions substantially asan electron conveying layer (or an electron injection layer). Regions assuch are therefore referred to as electron conveying regions in thisspecification.

As described above, the need for separately forming an electronconveying layer below the light emitting layer 108 is eliminated,simplifying the manufacture process of the EL display device. Also, thepresent invention has an advantage in that there is no fear of degradingthe light emitting layer 108 because the impurity element doping step isnot carried out until formation of films up through the passivation filmis finished.

This embodiment may be combined with Embodiment 1. To elaborate, if thetwo embodiments are combined, the vicinity of the interface between thelight emitting layer 108 and the anode 109 is doped with the halogenelement to form the hole conveying region while the vicinity of theinterface between the light emitting layer 108 and the cathode 107 isdoped with the alkali metal element or the alkaline earth metal elementto form the electron conveying region.

[Embodiment 4]

This embodiment gives a description of the case where the impurityelement used for doping in Embodiment 2 is changed to other elements.The symbols used in Embodiment 2 will be referred when necessary.

First, following the steps of Embodiment 2, the state shown in FIG. 2Cis obtained. A doping step of an impurity element is then carried out asshown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the vicinity of the interfacebetween the cathode 203 and the light emitting layer 204 is doped withan alkali metal element, typical examples of which include Li (lithium),Na (sodium), K (potassium), and Cs (cesium), or an alkaline earth metalelement, typical examples of which include Be (beryllium), Mg(magnesium), Ca (calcium), and Ba (barium). That the vicinity of theinterface between the cathode 203 and the light emitting layer 204 isdoped is the same as Embodiment 2. As a result, an electron conveyingregion 501 is formed.

As described above, the need for separately forming an electronconveying layer below the light emitting layer 204 is eliminated,simplifying the manufacture process of the EL display device. Also, thepresent invention has an advantage in that there is no fear of degradingthe light emitting layer 204 because the impurity element doping step isnot carried out until formation of films up through the passivation filmis finished.

This embodiment may be combined with Embodiment 2. To elaborate, if thetwo embodiments are combined, the vicinity of the interface between thelight emitting layer 204 and the anode 205 is doped with the halogenelement to form the hole conveying region while the vicinity of theinterface between the light emitting layer 204 and the cathode 203 isdoped with the alkali metal element or the alkaline earth metal elementto form the electron conveying region.

[Embodiment 5]

An example of an EL display device is shown in this embodiment in whicha light emitting region is distinguished from a non-light emittingregion by using the present invention to control positions for forming ahole conveying region and an electron conveying region.

First, a substrate 601 is put into a carrier 902 of a thin film formingapparatus shown in FIG. 9, and the carrier 902 carrying the substrate isset in a loading chamber 901. The substrate 601 is then transferred to afirst vapor phase film formation processing chamber 906 to form acathode 602 by evaporation from an Al—LiF alloy. The Al—LiF alloy isobtained by joint evaporation of aluminum (Al) and lithium fluoride(LiF). (FIG. 6A)

The substrate is then transferred to a solution application processingchamber 907. There, a solution in which polyphenylene vinylene isdissolved in dichloromethane is applied to the substrate by spin coatingto form a polymer precursor. The substrate is further transferred to acalcination processing chamber 908. There, heat treatment is performedfor polymerization, to thereby form a light emitting layer 603 ofpolyphenylene vinylene. (FIG. 6B)

Next, the substrate is transferred to a second vapor phase filmformation processing chamber 909. An anode 604 is formed in there from acompound of indium oxide and zinc oxide. The substrate is furthertransferred to a third vapor phase film formation processing chamber910. A passivation film 605 is formed in there from a silicon nitridefilm. (FIG. 6C)

After the state shown in FIG. 6C is obtained, the substrate is returnedto the loading chamber 901 and taken out from the thin film formingapparatus. The process of from forming the cathode 602 to forming thepassivation film 605 is continuously carried out without exposing thedevice to the air not even once. All of the thin films are formed on theentire surface of the substrate without using a mask or the like.

A resist 606 is then formed on the passivation film 606, and a dopingstep of an impurity element is carried out in this state. A halogenelement is used in this embodiment as the impurity element to dope thevicinity of the interface between the light emitting layer 603 and theanode 604. A hole conveying region 607 is thus selectively formed in thelight emitting layer 603. (FIG. 6D) In this embodiment, the holeconveying region 607 is selectively formed in the vicinity of the lightemitting layer 603 and the anode 604. When the voltage is applied to thelight emitting layer 603, only a portion where the hole conveying region607 is formed emits light. In other words, a driving voltage of an ELelement in this embodiment is adjusted so that the light emitting layer603 emit no light by itself, or emit light with extremely lowbrightness. Further adjustment is made so that the portion where thehole conveying region 607 is formed emits light with a sufficientbrightness by the same driving voltage. The contrast ratio of thebrightness of the emitted light is adjusted such that the brightness ofthe region where the hole conveying region 607 is formed is 10³ or more(preferably 10⁴ or more) times the brightness of the region where thehole conveying region 607 is not formed.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an outline of the light emission in thisdisplay device. FIG. 8A shows the state before the voltage is applied tothe light emitting layer. In the drawing, the inside of a figure drawnby the dotted line is a region doped with an impurity element (a halogenelement, in this embodiment) while the periphery of the figure is aregion that is not doped with the impurity element.

The state after the voltage is applied to the light emitting layer isshown in FIG. 8B. The region doped with the impurity element in FIG. 8Aemits light, so that the region can be visually recognized as a lightemitting region. On the other hand, the region that is not doped withthe impurity element in FIG. 8A does not emit light regardless of theapplication of voltage.

As described above, according to this embodiment, selective lightemission only from the hole conveying region can be obtained by dopingof the halogen element. That is, distinguishing a light emitting regionfrom a non-light emitting region by photolithography technique is madepossible. Also, this embodiment requires patterning only once during theprocess. In other words, there is no need for patterning the anode orthe cathode. The manufacture process is therefore very simple, providingan advantage of low production cost.

[Embodiment 6]

This embodiment gives a description of the case where the impurityelement used for doping in Embodiment 5 is changed to other elements.The symbols used in Embodiment 5 will be referred when necessary.

First, following the steps of Embodiment 5, the state shown in FIG. 6Cis obtained. A doping step of an impurity element is then carried out asshown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the vicinity of the interfacebetween the cathode 602 and the light emitting layer 603 is doped withan alkali metal element or an alkaline earth metal element. The vicinityof the interface between the cathode 602 and the light emitting layer603 is doped with the impurity element. As a result, an electronconveying region 701 is formed.

The selective light emission control as in Embodiment 5 can be attainedalso by this embodiment. That is, the selective light emission only bythe portion where the electron conveying region 701 is possibleaccording to this embodiment.

This embodiment may be combined with Embodiment 5. To elaborate, if thetwo embodiments are combined, the vicinity of the interface between thelight emitting layer 603 and the anode 604 is doped with the halogenelement to form the hole conveying region while the vicinity of theinterface between the light emitting layer 603 and the cathode 602 isdoped with the alkali metal element or the alkaline earth metal elementto form the electron conveying region.

[Embodiment 7]

This embodiment shows an example in which Embodiment 1 or 3 is appliedto manufacture of an active matrix type EL display device where a pixelportion and its driver circuits are integrally formed on the samesubstrate. Reference is made to FIGS. 10 and 11 for explanation.

In FIG. 10, reference symbol 10 denotes a substrate, 11, a pixelportion, 12, a source side driver circuit, and 13, a gate side drivercircuit. Wirings from the respective driver circuits are connected toexternal equipment through input/output wirings 14 to 16 and through anFPC 17. The wiring 14 is a wiring for sending a video signal, a clocksignal, etc., to the source side driver circuit 12. The wiring 15 is awiring for sending a clock signal or the like to the gate side drivercircuit 13. The wiring 16 is a wiring for supplying the pixel portion 11with the current to be fed to an EL element.

A sealing member (also called as a housing member) 18 is provided so asto cover at least the pixel portion, preferably, the driver circuits andthe pixel portion. The sealing member 18 has a shape with a concaveportion whose inner size (depth) is larger than the outer size (height)of the pixel portion 11, or is in a sheet form. An adhesive (also calledas a sealant) 19 fixes the sealing member 18 to the substrate 10 so thatthe sealing member 18 and the substrate 10 together form an airtightspace. At this point, the EL element reaches a state in which it iscompletely sealed in the airtight space, and access to the open air iscompletely cut off. The housing member 18 may be provided in pluralnumbers.

A preferred material for the sealing member 18 is an insulativesubstance such as glass or polymer. However, in a top view of FIG. 10,EL light is emitted toward the front of the drawing and, therefore, touse a light transmitting material is required. For example, amorphousglass (borosilicate glass, quartz, etc.), crystalized glass, ceramicglass, organic resins (acrylic resins, styrene-based resins,polycarbonate-based resins, epoxy-based resins, etc.), silicone-basedresins can be named.

Epoxy-based resins, acrylate-based resins or the like may be used as theadhesive 19. Thermally curable resins or optically curable resins mayalso be used for the adhesive. However, to transmit as little amount ofoxygen and moisture as possible is required for the material used as theadhesive 19.

A gap (a region denoted by 20 in FIG. 11) between the sealing member 18and the substrate 10 is preferably filled with an inert gas (argon,helium, nitrogen, etc.). The filler is not necessarily limited to gasbut may be an inert liquid (liquid fluoro carbon represented byperfluoroalkane, or the like) may also be used. Other appropriate inertliquid is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei8-78519.

To put a drying agent in the gap 20 is also effective. As the dryingagent, materials disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.Hei 9-148066 may be used. Barium oxide is typically used.

As shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of pixels each having an isolated ELelement are formed in the pixel portion. After forming a pixel electrode21, a light emitting layer 22 is formed by evaporation using a mask, andan anode 23 is formed thereon using another mask to fabricate the ELelement having the sectional structure as shown in FIG. 11. In thisembodiment, the pixel electrode (also serving as a cathode) 21, thelight emitting layer 22, the anode 23, and a passivation film 24 areformed continuously using a thin film forming apparatus of multi-chambertype as shown in FIG. 9.

The anode 23 is connected to the input/output wiring 26 in a regiondenoted by reference symbol 25. The input/output wiring 26 is a powersupply line for providing the anode 23 with a given voltage, and isconnected to the FPC 17 through a conductive paste material 27.

The input/output wiring 26 is formed at the same time as source wiringsand drain wirings of TFTs are formed. If the input/output wiring 26 isformed of a material mainly containing aluminum and an ITO film is usedto form the anode 23, corrosion of aluminum may take place at a portionwhere the wiring comes into contact with the anode, which isunpreferable. In this case, the trouble of corrosion can be averted byusing as the anode 23 a compound obtained by mixing indium oxide withzinc oxide.

The input/output wiring 26 passes through the gap (which is not hollowbut filled with the adhesive 19: the adhesive therefore has to be pouredto a thickness enough to flatten the level difference that is made bythe input/output wiring) between the sealing member 18 and the substrate10, and is connected to the FPC 17. Although description here takes theinput/output wiring 26, the other input/output wirings 14 to 16 aresimilarly connected to the FPC 17 passing under the sealing member 18.

[Embodiment 8]

A struccture in which a source side driver circuit and a gate sidedriver circuit are formed in the periphery of a pixel portion isdescribed in Embodiment 7. It is also possible to form the drivercircuits in the pixel portion, which will be explained in thisembodiment. In that case, all of light emitted from a light emittinglayer exit from the opposite side of a substrate, creating deadspace,where no light can pass, between the substrate and a pixel electrode.

Therefore, any element or circuit may be formed in this deadspacewithout affecting display of images. To form the driver circuits in thedeadspace thus makes it possible to reduce the size of the substrateeven further.

Details of the basic concept of this embodiment is described in JapanesePatent Application No. Hei 11-182590, filed by the present applicant.The filed specification makes a complete reference for Embodiment 8 ofthe present invention.

[Embodiment 9]

EL display devices fabricated by implementing Embodiments 1 to 4 are ofself-light emitting type, and hence are superior in visibility in abright place to liquid crystal display devices. This is the reason whythe devices of the present invention can be used as a direct-view typeEL display.

Wide view angle may be named as one of advantages the EL displays holdover the liquid crystal displays. Accordingly, it is recommendable toemploy an EL display that applies the present invention to a display(display monitor) of 30 inches or more in diagonal (typically, 40 inchesor more), when watching a television broadcast on a large screen.

The present invention can be utilized not only as an EL display (amonitor for a personal computer, a monitor for receiving televisionbroadcasting, a monitor for advertisement display, etc.) but also as adisplay for various kinds of electronic devices.

The electronic devices as such may include video cameras, digitalcameras, goggle type displays (head mount diplays), navigation systemsfor automobiles, personal computers, video game machines integrated withdisplays, portable information terminals (mobile. computers, cellularphones, electronic books, etc.), and image reproducing devices providedwith recording media (specifically, devices that are provided with adisplay capable of reproducing recording media such as compact discs(CDs), laser discs (LDs), and digital video discs (DVDs) and displayingimages recorded therein). Examples of these electronic devices are shownin FIGS. 12A to 12F.

FIG. 12A shows a personal computer that is comprised of a main body2001, a housing 2002, a display monitor 2003, and a keyboard 2004. Thepresent invention can be used for the display monitor 2003.

FIG. 12B shows a video camera that is comprised of a main body 2101, adisplay monitor 2102, an audio input unit 2103, operation switches 2104,a battery 2105, and an image receiving unit 2106. The present inventioncan be used for the display monitor 2102.

FIG. 12C shows a part (right hand piece) of a head mount type EL displaythat is comprised of a main body 2201, signal cables 2202, a fixatingband 2203, a display monitor 2204, an optical system 2205, and a displaydevice 2206. The present invention can be used for the display device2206.

FIG. 12D shows an image reproducing device provided with a recordingmedium (specifically, a DVD player) which is comprised of a main body2301, a recording medium (CD, LD, DVD, or the like) 2302, operationswitches 2303, a display monitor (a) 2304, and a display monitor (b)2305. The display monitor (a) mainly displays image information whilethe display monitor (b) mainly displays character information. Thepresent invention can be used for both the display monitors (a) and (b).Other image reproducing device provided with a recording medium, towhich the present invention is applicable, includes a CD player, a gamemachine and the like.

FIG. 12E shows a portable (mobile) computer that is comprised of a mainbody 2401, a camera unit 2402, an image receiving unit 2403, anoperation switch 2404, and a display monitor 2405. The present inventioncan be used for the display monitor 2405.

FIG. 12F shows an EL display that is comprised of a housing 2501, asupport stand 2502, and a display monitor 2503. The present inventioncan be used for the display monitor 2503. Having wide view angles, theEL display is advantageous over a liquid crystal display in a largescreen display, especially in a display whose diagonal line extends 10inches or longer (more particularly, 30 inches or longer).

If the brightness of emitted light of EL materials is improved infuture, it will become possible to use the present invenion for a fronttype or a rear type projector by enlarging and projecting, with the useof a lense or the like, light including image information that isoutput.

According to the present invention, the number of layers can be reducedwhile the performance of the EL element is kept or improved. Theproduction cost of the EL display device can thus be reduced. Inaddition, An electronic device (electronic equipment) having such aninexpensive EL display device as a display may accordingly be decreasedin product cost.

What is claimed is:
 1. An EL display device comprising: a light emittinglayer sandwiched between a cathode and an anode; and a passivation filmformed on said anode, wherein a halogen element is contained in aportion of said light emitting layer, and wherein said portion is incontact with said anode.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidhalogen element is contained in said anode.
 3. A device according toclaim 1, wherein said halogen element is contained in said passivationfilm.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said portion comprises aregion containing the halogen element and a region not containing thehalogen element.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said cathodecomprises a metal film containing at least one of an alkali metalelement and an alkaline earth metal element while said anode comprises atransparent conductive film.
 6. A device according to claim 1, whereinsaid passivation film is an insulating film containing silicon.
 7. Adevice comprising an EL display device according to claim
 1. 8. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said portion has a thickness of 100 nm orless.
 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said halogen element isdoped through said passivation film.
 10. An EL display devicecomprising: a TFT formed over a substrate; a light emitting layersandwiched between an anode and a cathode; and a passivation film isformed on said anode, wherein said cathode is electrically connected tosaid TFT, wherein a halogen element is contained in a portion of saidlight emitting layer, and wherein said portion is in contact with saidanode.
 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said halogen elementis contained in said anode.
 12. A device according to claim 10, whereinsaid halogen element is contained in said passivation film.
 13. A deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein said portion comprises a regioncontaining the halogen element and a region not containing the halogenelement.
 14. A device according to claim 10, wherein said cathodecomprises a metal film containing at least one of an alkali metalelement and an alkaline earth metal element while said anode comprises atransparent conductive film.
 15. A device according to claim 10, whereinsaid passivation film is an insulating film containing silicon.
 16. Adevice comprising an EL display device according to claim
 10. 17. Adevice according to claim 10, wherein said portion has a thickness of100 nm or less.
 18. A. device according to claim 10, wherein saidhalogen element is doped through said passivation film.
 19. An ELdisplay device comprising: a light emitting layer sandwiched between acathode and an anode; and a passivation film formed on said anode,wherein at least one of an alkali metal element and an alkaline earthmetal element is contained in a portion of said light emitting layer,wherein said portion is in contact with said cathode, and wherein saidat least one of the alkali metal element and the alkaline earth metalelement is doped through said passivation film.
 20. A device accordingto claim 19, wherein there are a region containing said at least one ofthe alkali metal element and the alkaline earth metal element and aregion not containing the alkali metal element or the alkaline earthmetal element in said passivation film.
 21. A device according to claim19, wherein said portion comprises a region containing said at least oneof the alkali metal element and the alkaline earth metal element and aregion not containing the alkali metal element or the alkaline earthmetal element.
 22. A device according to claim 19, wherein said cathodecomprises a metal film containing at least one of an alkali metalelement and an alkaline earth metal element while said anode comprises atransparent conductive film.
 23. A device according to claim 19, whereinsaid passivation film is an insulating film containing silicon.
 24. Adevice comprising an EL display device according to claim
 19. 25. Adevice according to claim 19, wherein said portion has a thickness of100 nm or less.
 26. An EL display device comprising: a TFT formed over asubstrate; a light emitting layer sandwiched between an anode and acathode; and a passivation film is formed on said anode, wherein saidcathode is electrically connected to said TFT, wherein at least one ofan alkali metal element and an alkaline earth metal element is containedin a portion of said light emitting layer, wherein said portion is incontact with said anode, and wherein said at least one of the alkalimetal element and the alkaline earth metal element is doped through saidpassivation film.
 27. A device according to claim 26, wherein there is aregion containing said at least one of the alkali metal element and thealkaline earth metal element and a region not containing the alkalimetal element or the alkaline earth metal element in said passivationfilm.
 28. A device according to claim 26, wherein said portion comprisesa region containing said at least one of the alkali metal element andthe alkaline earth metal element and a region not containing the alkalimetal element or the alkaline earth metal element in the vicinities ofthe interface between said light emitting layer and said cathode.
 29. Adevice according to claim 26, wherein said cathode comprises a metalfilm containing at least one of an alkali metal element and an alkalineearth metal element while said anode comprises a transparent conductivefilm.
 30. A device according to claim 26, wherein said passivation filmis an film containing silicon.
 31. A device comprising an EL displaydevice according to claim
 26. 32. A device comprising to claim 26,wherein said portion has a thickness of 100 nm or less.
 33. An ELdisplay device comprising: a light emitting layer sandwiched between acathode and an anode; and a passivation film on said anode, wherein ahalogen element is selectively doped to said light emitting layerthrough said passivation film.
 34. A device according to claim 33,wherein said halogen element is contained in said anode.
 35. A deviceaccording to claim 33, wherein said halogen element is contained in saidpassivation film.
 36. A device according to claim 33, wherein saidcathode comprises a metal film containing at least one of an alkalimetal element and an alkaline earth metal element while said anodecomprises a transparent conductive film.
 37. A device according to claim33, wherein said passivation film is an insulating film containingsilicon.
 38. A device comprising an EL display device according to claim33.
 39. An EL display device comprising: a light emitting layersandwiched between a cathode and an anode; and a passivation film onsaid anode, wherein at least one of an alkali metal element and analkaline earth metal element is selectively doped to said light emittinglayer through said passivation film.
 40. A device according to claim 39,wherein said cathode comprises a metal film containing at least one ofan alkali metal element and an alkaline earth metal element while saidanode comprises a transparent conductive film.
 41. A device according toclaim 39, wherein said passivation film is an insulating film containingsilicon.
 42. A device comprising an EL display device according to claim39.
 43. An EL display device comprising: a layer comprising an organicmaterial between a cathode and an anode; and a passivation film on saidanode, wherein said layer comprising a first portion and a secondportion and said first portion is in contact with said anode, whereinonly said first portion comprises a halogen element, and wherein atleast said second portion functions as a light emitting layer.
 44. Adevice according to claim 43, wherein said halogen element is containedin said anode.
 45. A device according to claim 43, wherein said halogenelement is contained in said passivation film.
 46. A device according toclaim 43, wherein said halogen element is doped through said passivationfilm.
 47. A device according to claim 43, wherein said cathode comprisesa metal film containing at least one of an alkali metal element and analkaline earth metal element while said anode comprises a transparentconductive film.
 48. A device according to claim 43, wherein saidpassivation film is an insulating film containing silicon.
 49. A devicecomprising an EL display device according to claim
 43. 50. An EL displaydevice comprising: a layer comprising an organic material between acathode and an anode; and a passivation film on said anode, wherein saidlayer comprising a first portion and a second portion and said firstportion is in contact with said anode, wherein only said first portioncomprises at least one of an alkali metal element and an alkaline earthmetal element, wherein at least said second portion functions as a lightemitting layer, and wherein said at least one of the alkali metalelement and the alkaline earth metal element is doped through saidpassivation film.
 51. A device according to claim 50, wherein saidcathode comprises a metal film containing at least one of an alkalimetal element and an alkaline earth metal element while said anodecomprises a transparent conductive film.
 52. A device according to claim50, wherein said passivation film is an insulating film containingsilicon.
 53. A device according to claim 50, said device comprises an ELdisplay device.